Defense behavior and tail loss in the endemic lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae (Squamata, Tropiduridae) from southeastern Brazil
Defense behavior of the endemic tropidurid lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae was studied in an area of rocky outcrops at Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil. Tail loss aspects of this species were also studied in lizards from three populations (Diamantina, Serra do Cipó, and Serro, M...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Universidade de São Paulo
2006-09-01
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Series: | Phyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology |
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Online Access: | http://www.phyllomedusa.esalq.usp.br/articles/volume5/number1/512530.pdf |
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author | Conrado A. B. Galdino Emiliane G. Pereira Angélica F. Fontes Monique Van Sluys |
author_facet | Conrado A. B. Galdino Emiliane G. Pereira Angélica F. Fontes Monique Van Sluys |
author_sort | Conrado A. B. Galdino |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Defense behavior of the endemic tropidurid lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae was studied in an area of rocky outcrops at Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil. Tail loss aspects of this species were also studied in lizards from three populations (Diamantina, Serra do Cipó, and Serro, Minas Gerais State, Brazil). Lizards relied primarily on crypsis to avoid detection by predators. Secondary defense strategies involved a complex set of behaviors. Mean maximum distance of flight was 1.68 ± 1.70 m. When captured,individuals attempted to flee, lifted the tail, produced distress calls, discharged the cloacal contents, waived their tails, and bit. Frequency of tail autotomy was 13.2% (n = 53) in Diamantina, 11.9% (n = 42) in Serra do Cipó, and 4.1% (n = 49) in Serro. Tail autotomy frequency did not differ among the three populations (X2 = 3.3, DF =2, p = 0.19). Tail autotomy did not vary between the years of the study (X2 = 1.32, p = 0.35) and did not differ between males and females among the studied populations. |
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id | doaj.art-4070fdd264ac4e89912fe766a995a9b2 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1519-1397 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-17T20:48:16Z |
publishDate | 2006-09-01 |
publisher | Universidade de São Paulo |
record_format | Article |
series | Phyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology |
spelling | doaj.art-4070fdd264ac4e89912fe766a995a9b22022-12-21T21:33:06ZengUniversidade de São PauloPhyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology1519-13972006-09-01512530Defense behavior and tail loss in the endemic lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae (Squamata, Tropiduridae) from southeastern BrazilConrado A. B. GaldinoEmiliane G. PereiraAngélica F. FontesMonique Van SluysDefense behavior of the endemic tropidurid lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae was studied in an area of rocky outcrops at Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil. Tail loss aspects of this species were also studied in lizards from three populations (Diamantina, Serra do Cipó, and Serro, Minas Gerais State, Brazil). Lizards relied primarily on crypsis to avoid detection by predators. Secondary defense strategies involved a complex set of behaviors. Mean maximum distance of flight was 1.68 ± 1.70 m. When captured,individuals attempted to flee, lifted the tail, produced distress calls, discharged the cloacal contents, waived their tails, and bit. Frequency of tail autotomy was 13.2% (n = 53) in Diamantina, 11.9% (n = 42) in Serra do Cipó, and 4.1% (n = 49) in Serro. Tail autotomy frequency did not differ among the three populations (X2 = 3.3, DF =2, p = 0.19). Tail autotomy did not vary between the years of the study (X2 = 1.32, p = 0.35) and did not differ between males and females among the studied populations.http://www.phyllomedusa.esalq.usp.br/articles/volume5/number1/512530.pdfSquamataTropiduridaeEurolophosaurus nanuzaedefense behaviortail autotomysoutheastern Brazil |
spellingShingle | Conrado A. B. Galdino Emiliane G. Pereira Angélica F. Fontes Monique Van Sluys Defense behavior and tail loss in the endemic lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae (Squamata, Tropiduridae) from southeastern Brazil Phyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology Squamata Tropiduridae Eurolophosaurus nanuzae defense behavior tail autotomy southeastern Brazil |
title | Defense behavior and tail loss in the endemic lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae (Squamata, Tropiduridae) from southeastern Brazil |
title_full | Defense behavior and tail loss in the endemic lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae (Squamata, Tropiduridae) from southeastern Brazil |
title_fullStr | Defense behavior and tail loss in the endemic lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae (Squamata, Tropiduridae) from southeastern Brazil |
title_full_unstemmed | Defense behavior and tail loss in the endemic lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae (Squamata, Tropiduridae) from southeastern Brazil |
title_short | Defense behavior and tail loss in the endemic lizard Eurolophosaurus nanuzae (Squamata, Tropiduridae) from southeastern Brazil |
title_sort | defense behavior and tail loss in the endemic lizard eurolophosaurus nanuzae squamata tropiduridae from southeastern brazil |
topic | Squamata Tropiduridae Eurolophosaurus nanuzae defense behavior tail autotomy southeastern Brazil |
url | http://www.phyllomedusa.esalq.usp.br/articles/volume5/number1/512530.pdf |
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